Drought Information Statement for Northeast IA, Southeast MN, & Western, WI Valid March 28, 2024 Issued By: WFO La Crosse, WI Contact Information: This product will be updated April 4, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/ARX/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. Widespread improvement to the drought north of Interstate 90 Patchy improvement in the drought elsewhere. Drought intensity and Extent... D1 (Moderate Drought) to D3 (Extreme Drought): Northeast Iowa D0: (Abnormally Dry) to D2 (Severe Drought): Southeast Minnesota and south of Interstate 90 in Wisconsin. D0: (Abnormally Dry): North of Interstate 90 in Wisconsin. Recent Change in Drought Intensity... There was a 1 class improvement north of Interstate 90 and patchy 1 class improvements in northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin. Precipitation... From March 21 through March 27, precipitation totals ranged from 0.26" near Oelwein, IA to 4.07" at Wabasha, MN. During this period, typically around 0.6” of precipitation falls. Temperature... During the past month (February 27 through March 27), temperatures ranged from 4°F to 8°F warmer than normal. This has resulted in no frost in ground; thus, allowing precipitation to soak into the ground. In addition, some vegetation to come out of its winter dormancy. Summary of Impacts... Hydrologic Impacts As of the morning of March 27, rivers and stream flows ranged from much below to normal in northeast Iowa, from much below to much above in western Wisconsin, and from below to normal in southeast Minnesota. Agricultural Impacts No known impacts at this time. Fire Hazard Impacts As of the morning of March 27, fire danger was moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) to high (fires start easily and spread at a high rate) in northeast Iowa, and low (fires start easily and spread at a low rate) fire danger in southeast Minnesota and Wisconsin. Other Impacts There are no known impacts at this time. Mitigation Actions None reported. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts... From March 13 through March 26, precipitation totals ranged from 0.35" near Oxford, WI (Adams County) to 3.87" at Wabasha, MN. During this period, typically 1" of precipitation falls. From April 1, 2023, through March 26, 2024, precipitation departures range from near-normal to 11" below normal north of Interstate 90, and from 8 to just over 20" below normal across the remainder of the area. Due to these longer-term deficits and the lack of snow to melt, Bloody Run Creek near Marquette, IA, Upper Iowa near Dorchester, and Yellow River near Ion, IA flows are less than 25% of normal. Agricultural Impacts... Soil moisture remains below normal along and south of Interstate 90. Fire Hazard Impacts... As of the morning of March 27, fire danger was moderate (fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate) to high (fires start easily and spread at a high rate) in northeast Iowa. Meanwhile, there was low (fires start easily and spread at a low rate) fire danger in southeast Minnesota and Wisconsin. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast... From March 27 through April 3, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is forecasting between a 0.50 to 1” of precipitation south of Charles City, IA to Wausau, WI line. Elsewhere, precipitation totals are expected to range from 0.25 to 0.50”. Normal precipitation is around 2 thirds of an inch for this time period. Rapid Onset Drought Outlook... With the Climate Prediction Center forecasting near-normal temperatures and near to above-normal precipitation, rapid onset drought (at least a 2-category degradation) is not expected between April 4 and April 10. Long-Range Outlooks... From April through June, there is enhanced chances for warmer-than-normal temperatures. Meanwhile, there are equal chances of wetter-, near-, and drier-than- normal. Drought Outlook... According to the latest U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook (March 21 through June 30), the drought is expected to persist across much of the Upper Mississippi River Valley.